Southwestern Cuisine A Blend of Tex-Mex, Cali-Mex and Mexican Food Cultures

Southwestern Cuisine & Food Culture

The Southwestern region of America comprises of New Mexico, Texas and Southern California. This region has a history of rustic cuisine inspired by Native Tribes, Cowboys and modern Mexicans. In this region you will find a blend of the spiciest and most vibrant American food. The cuisines of this region are known according to the culinary evolution and fusion cooking which was influenced by the pioneers and settlers. A combination of Texas and Mexican cuisine is known as Tex-Mex cuisine while a combination of Californian and Mexican Cuisine is called Cali-Mex Cuisine.

The Southwestern Cuisine is inspired by various cultures which have added new variety to the foods. Aztec and Mayan Civilizations were the ethnic residents with their fruits, vegetables and occasional meats. However, Rice and flour was brought in the 1400’s by the Spanish invaders resulting in changing the way breads were originally made from corn. The Spanish brought wit them oregano, sugar, cinnamon, black pepper and cilantro. The European Invaders, especially the French also introduces new food varieties to the already rich Southwestern Cuisines. Garlic and onions found in today’s cuisines are believed to be brought by the European invaders.

Chile and Corn are the most important ingredients used in Southwestern cuisines. Corn is considered the heart of Southwestern Cuisine while chile is its soul. Other basic ingredients used in Southwestern cuisines include green chiles, beans, hominy, avocados, pine nuts, rice, pork, corn, flour tortillas, cilantro, cheese and more. The traditional recipes which form the part of daily cuisines of this region are Flautas, Burritos, Tostadas, Tacos and Tamales.

Beverages Texas Iced Tea     Hot Dr. Pepper

Breakfasts Tex-Mex Scrambled Eggs

Appetizers and Snacks ABC Sandwich Tex Mex Trash Texas Crabgrass Texas Hot Peanuts Texas Niblet Mix Texas Pecan Nuggets Texas Trail Dip Texas Trash Tex-Mex Dip

Soups, Stews and Chilies Authentic Texas Border Chili Cream of Green Chile Soup Pedernales River Chili Real Texas Chili Texas Chili Texas Jambalaya Tex-Mex Chili Dip

Salads and Dressings Grilled Tex-Mex Salad Texas Ranch-Style Taco Salad Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

Main Dish Meats Roasted Chicken Tacos Grilled Texas 1011 Meat Kabobs San Antonio Stew Taco Filling Texas Beef Brisket Texas Cowboy Stew Texas Ham Texas Ham Loaf Texas Red Texas Tavern Burgers Tex-Mex Chops Tex-Mex Calabacita Con Puerco Tex-Mex Meat Loaf Tex-Mex Meatloaf for Two Tex-Mex Stew Tex-Mex Pork Chops Tex-Mex Enchiladas Austin Fajitas Fancy Fajitas Texas Ranch-Style Fajitas Tex-Mex Fajitas Tex-Mex Skillet Supper

Main Dish Poultry Chicken Mole Chicken Poblanos Mexican Fried Chicken Chicken Tamale Pie Tex-Mex Turkey Pizza Deep-Fried Turkey Roast Turkey Texas Two-Step Chicken Picante Tex-Mex Roasted Chicken Wing Dings Texas Chicken Quesadillas

Main Dish Seafood Grilled Texas Shrimp

Vegetable Side Dishes El Paso Border Beans Calabacitas Loaded Southwestern Baked Potatoes Chayote with Onions (chayote con cebollas) Chile Corn on the Cob Cinnamon Squash Rings Deep-Fried Squash Blossoms French-Fried Cactus Fried Green Tomatoes Green Chile Hominy Jalapeno Corn Jarred Sauerkraut Mexican Fried Potatoes Mixed Grill Papas Con Chile Colorado (red chile potatoes) Mexican-Style Hash Brown Potatoes Nopalitos (little cacti) Palo Verde Peas Poblano Chiles Stuffed with cheese Papas Con Rajas (potatoes with peppers) Potato Pancakes (panques de papa) Rajas Con Queso (peppers with cheese) Quelites Santa fe Corn Souffle Spicy Fried Potatoes Stuffed Zucchini Taco Potatoes Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers Tater Tots Mexicana Torta de Platanos Arizona Baked Corn

Side Dishes Boiled Pinto Beans Bunkhouse Beans California Refried Beans Chile Beans Chuckwagon Chili Beans Ffrijoles Charros Drunken Beans (frijoles borrachos) Pinnacle Peak Patio Cowboy Beans Horseshoe cafe cowboy beans Frijoles Refritos (refried beans) Iindian Pintos Mesquite Bean Cakes Pot of Beans Ranch Style Beans Rancho Baked Beans Refried Beans Santa fe Frijoles Refritos Tombstone Beans Tied-Up Beans (frijoles maneados) Lone Star Bacon and Cheddar Fries Western Beans Black Eyes of Texas Casserole Taqueria Guacamole Lone Star Rice Tex-Mex Chunky Rice Tex-Mex Macaroni and Cheese Tex-Mex Spaghetti Pie

Corn, Sourdough, and other Breads Genuine Texas Chili Bread     Tex-Mex Biscuits

Salsas and Condiments Tex-Mex Baked Potatoes Tex-Mex Cranberry Salsa Basic Tex-Mex Sauce El Paso Red Sauce Lone Star Steak Sauce Texas Barbecue Sauce Tex-Mex Chili Gravy

Desserts Butter Pecan Pie Cheese and Tortilla Pie Cow Patty Cobbler Kahlua Ice Cream Pie Lemon Pie Mango Meringue Pie Margarita Pie Mexican Pecan Pie Open Range Shoofly Pie Orange Meringue Pie Peach Pie Quiche in a Green Chile Shell River Walk Strawberry Pie Seven Layer Tortilla Pie Sliced Lemon Pie Sour Cream Peach Pie Sour Cream Raisin Pie Sour Orange Pie Southwest Skillet Pot Pie Strawberry Margarita Pie Strawberry Rhubarb Pie River Walk Strawberry Pie Texas Tumbleweed Peach Cobbler Rio Grande Valley Pink Grapefruit Pie Texas Pecan Icebox Gems Tex-Mex Capirotada